The Deep South

Wildlife Parks And Unspoilt Beaches

The arid jungles of the Deep South contain Yala, Uda Walawe and Bundala, 3 of the most important wildlife reserves in Sri Lanka.

Galle and The Southern Beaches presents a wonderful mix of colonial historical influences coupled with pristine picture-postcard beaches that attract an eclectic mix of independent travellers.

Tangalle is the best kept secret in Sri Lanka with a wonderfully beautiful coastline backing onto wild bird filled lagoons.

The South Coast Road runs along the coast from the vicinity of Matara, through Galle and back to Colombo.

YALA NATIONAL PARK

Yala is the island’s most famous wildlife reserve and is known throughout Asia as the best location to observe Leopards in the wild.

The stunning landscapes at Yala also contain large numbers of Elephants, including several ‘cross-tuskers’. The aggressive Sloth Bear is also sighted among areas of rocky terrain.

There are also monster Crocodiles at its water-holes, with Yala reputedly having the largest density of Marsh Crocodiles in the world!

UDA WALAWE NATIONAL PARK

Uda Walawe is the island’s premier elephant sanctuary. Home to around 500 wild Elephants, a visit to Uda Walawe almost guarantees numerous encounters with these majestic animals.

Large herds that sometimes number over 200 individuals can be observed during the Dry Season.

The beautiful Uda Walawe Lake looks idyllic with the mist laden mountains of the Hill Country in the background. It is also home to numerous raptors such as hawks and Fishing Eagles.

BUNDALA NATIONAL PARK

Famous for its flocks of flamingoes, the RAMSAR
designated Bundala lagoons are one of the most important bird sanctuaries in Asia.

Bundala is especially good for observing waders and shore-birds during the Winter migratory season that lasts from Nov-April. There is also plenty of other wildlife including huge specimens of salt-water crocodiles and 30 – 50 wild elephants.

You can sometimes enjoy the sight of wild elephants walking on the beach against the Indian Ocean.

HISTORIC OLD GALLE

A magnificent Dutch Fort (1640) overlooks the small harbour. The ramparts enclose a sleepy ‘Old Town’ with some 200 Dutch and British colonial buildings in a perfect state of conservation, many recently converted into award winning boutique hotels - a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Galle and its environs are fast becoming a chic Asian ‘riviera’ with a mixture of plush villas and small hotels catering to independent travellers who wish to avoid the resort atmosphere of the South West.

THE DEEP SOUTH BEACHES

Unawatuna, Weligama and Mirissa are famous beaches that are all within easy reach of Galle.

Unawatuna is actually a suburb of Galle and features a lovely bay now lined with little hotels and guesthouses. Once listed among the world’s 12 best beaches.

Mirissa still contains a pristine beach while Weligama is considered to have one of the most beautiful bays in the world.

TANGALLE

Tangalle has perhaps the most beautiful area of coastline in the whole of Sri Lanka. For many years, these isolated beaches were the preserve of ‘people in the know’ looking for that perfect ‘get away from it all’ beach destination.

There is a succession of idyllic bays and coves to the west of town that are almost completely deserted except for simple beach cabanas and exclusive private villas built overlooking the Indian Ocean.

To the east are the turtle nesting beaches at Rekawa where you may venture by torchlight at night to see huge marine turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs.

BUDURUWAGALA - 8TH CENTURY AD

Seven partially completed rock-cut figures including one Buddha statue 16m high in a very attractive jungle location.

SACRED KATARAGAMA

A centre of pilgrimage for over 2000 years for all faiths and very much off the usual tourist trail. The Hindu temple is the main focus of attention, where large numbers of devotees give offerings (pooja’s) to the God Kataragama.

KATARAGAMA FESTIVAL

Celebrated during the July Full Moon includes fire-walking and trance induced rituals - but not for the faint-hearted or squeamish!